Game changer: watch the old McCain come out tonight

[many a good man]

The playbook says go negative when you're down by 10 points but this season the mood is different. Going negative only drives McCain's numbers lower.

I predict a kinder, gentler McCain tonight. Positive, bipartisan, respectful. No red meat for the wacko base but an effort to reach out to the middle. He'll pretend his campaign has been that way all along.

His base in the corpirate media will fall for it and independents who haven't been paying attention until now will, also. He'll narrow the gap and try to force Obama on the offensive.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. He's always the old McCain.

[CakeGrrl]

2. If so, that will force him to have to win on the issues

...and economic policy is not his strength. He can try to charm all he wants, but with the economy doing its gyrations, he needs to come out with whatever "plan" they've been promising.

Obama has never been anything but positive and respectful, so he just keeps doing what he's been doing, plus he'll win on the issues.

[TornadoTN]

3. He tried to go all "charming" and "folksy" before - it doesnt work

It won't work for him. Plus, his base is rabidly biting his ankles trying to get him to go even more negative.

[SDJay]

13. McCrap is about as charming

as a starving wolverine on angel dust. He's an asshole, full of a sense of self-entitlement, and has proven that no depth is too low to stoop to in an effort to garner more power for himself. I hope he tries this tact - it'll just be another in the long line of lame attempts to be something he's not.

[lady raven]

4. It will also underscore the "erratic" label.

If another McCain, someone different from the one of late, shows up for tonight's debate, it will leave some wondering just how many different McCains there ARE and which one would be leading us if he won the election.

[many a good man]

6. It won't be enough for McCain to win but

it's his only chance to salvage an iota of self respect. I don't think it'll work and Obama will stick to his game plan.

[tbyg52]

5. He'll try. We can hope something ticks him off. nt

[BelgianMadCow]

7. I think Obama can pull it off - the off-ticking, that is

face to face.
Well I can hope :-)

[TheCowsCameHome]

8. He can't be anything but old. Crankier is another matter.

Bring it on, gramps.

Last chance to tank early.

[phleshdef]

9. No offense to healthy, intelligent, coherant, youthful people are who are gracefully 70+ yrs old...

But yea, "Old" McCain will come out tonight. That much is obvious...

[Median Democrat]

10. The Appropriate Obama Response Is To Remain Positive and Respectful, Then Ruthlessly

But politely slice and dice he's latest economic proposals. Obama just needs to explain.

Obama can then let his surrogates slice and dice McCain for talking a big game to the base.

[hogwyld]

11. He'll lose the base that way

They've been told by McLame, and have been expecting for 2 weeks, that he would attack relentlessly. If he doesn't, not only will it look like he blinked first, but it will make him cowardly in the base' eyes.

[Hamlette]

12. I agree, a GOP interest group pulled their negative ads today, I bet they are in sinc

McCain is going down in the polls, he prolly told them to back off and he will too.

It will be interesting....but I'm nervous....be here for me?

[many a good man]

21. You're covered

McCain is in a lose-lose situation.

[BlooInBloo]

14. People have this insane idea that he used to be any different.

He didn't.

[many a good man]

22. He once had sky high popularity ratings

and was courted for party switching. A lot of moderates yearn for the McCain of old.

[ecstatic]

15. nope. he promised bloodshed tonight. to kick "that one's" ass

now we are all waiting.

[Neecy]

18. I agree

And Obama's "say it to my face" comment was brilliant - you know it riled McNut up, basically called him a coward if he *didn't* bring it up tonight. He'll be a rude bastard, which is what he is through and through anyway.

[msallied]

16. It would be quite the Orwellian trick.

Thing is, I just don't think Johnny Mac has it in him. He lacks the temperament to deal with having his ass kicked.

[Bubbha Jo]

17. I don't think he can calm down without heavy drugs....

The election is too close and he's too far behind. With his anger problem, he's about unglued anger wise.

[jenmito]

19. I've been saying he'll start by apologizing to Obama for his supporters saying "inappropriate

things."

[ddeclue]

20. That would like bi-polar/schizo...he already looks erratic enough...

I predict he tones it down a bit but still goes negative.